- Brazilian GP - FP2
Alonso: Engine failure no concern
Fernando Alonso says Ferrari was braced for his engine failure in FP2 during Friday practice for the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Alonso's afternoon session ended when he pulled up with flames coming from the back of his Ferrari. Though engine issues can result in grid penalties and even pit-lane starts Alonso says an older engine was being used for Friday practice.
"Today we knew that the power unit had reached the end of its cycle," Alonso said. "So there was a risk we wouldn't finish the second session, but this was part of the programme we have been on for a few races now. It's always a shame not being able to use all the time available, even though I don't think it affected our work too much."
Alonso thinks the newly-laid asphalt at Interlagos means the threat of rain becomes an even more unpredictable outcome.
"The new track surface produced a lot of grip and it was extremely difficult to put together a good lap, because tyre behaviour changed from corner to corner. With a new surface, what effect the rain will have is always an unknown factor, so it's impossible to make predictions. That would have been the case at Sochi too, but it didn't rain there, so it means we have to be ready for every eventuality."
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